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History Of WTMG
Thanks to Marc Tyll for this history of WTMG.
WTMG-FM began operations in 1983 as WJRQ-FM which was owned by Jim Johnson who had been a legendary broadcaster and innovator in Tampa Bay radio. In 1986 the station became WLLO-FM ,"Willo 92 Under The Willow Tree". Arkelien sold WLLO in 1987 to well known Orlando radio news director, Reagan Smith and his Gulf to Bay Broadcasting Corporation. Smith changed the call letters to WFEZ-FM 92.1 for "EZ 92" and left the format easy listening. However, WFEZ was experiencing the same difficulty as WLLO in that the format was attracting the 55+ demographics which was virtually impossible to sell in Gainesville. In 1988 Smith decided to switch the format back to its original country roots and started calling it "Z-Country 92." Since Smith was operating the station absentee, no one locally at WFEZ was in charge. The station suffered in its ability to attract any meaningful advertising revenues, only billing approximately $2,500 per month with operational expenses exceeding $6,000 monthly with a bare skeleton crew. The monthly power bill alone was over $1,500. Smith decided he needed to do something fast, so Jacksonville radio executive Marc Tyll was hired as the station’s general manager and given the responsibility of turning WFEZ around. Tyll had worked in Ocala and Gainesville years earlier and was most recently the General Sales Manager at Jacksonville’s WJAX-AM 690 and WAPE-FM 95.1. Tyll ascertained the situation and determined a complete station overhaul was due. It was determined the previous success 92.1 had experienced as a country station was impossible to repeat since the market now had three FM country stations and it didn’t make since to compete directly against the big FM stations. Tyll determined there was a void in the market for "Churban contemporary", (A hybrid radio format which mixes CHR (Contemporary Hit Radio) with Urban (Hip Hop, R&B) ,and quickly changed the format to hot adult contemporary during the day and "Churban" during the night and weekends. Tony Downes, WFEZ mid-day on-air personality, who had a long history with urban contemporary and dance formats, was promoted to Programming Director and Operations Manager and the format overhaul planning and implementation began. After about three weeks into the new format, Downes approached Tyll and asked to go full time Churban, stating early research was showing a strong following for the Churban/dance music instead of the adult contemporary which was played during weekdays. Tyll thought it over and consulted with Smith about the proposed format adjustment and it was decided to go along with Downes proposal, so WFEZ became full-time Churban as "Hot 92.1". The ratings soared and quickly gained listeners from Gainesville in the 18-49 adult demographic. "Hot 92.1" was even taking away listeners from long time CHR legend WYKS-FM 105.3 "Kiss 105". Former WRUF-FM 103.7 Gainesville "Studio 104" producer and radio host, Professor Chuck Woods, joined "Hot 92.1" as a programming consultant and host of the "Saturday Hot Mix." As "Hot 92.1" ratings climbed and billing progressed to an all time high, Smith promoted Tyll to Vice-President in addition to being the station’s general manager and general sales manager.